US2552760A

US2552760A - Binary calculator

Info

Publication number: US2552760A
Application number: US661590A
Authority: US
Inventors: Baker George Thomas
Original assignee: Automatic Electric Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Automatic Electric Laboratories Inc
Priority date: 1945-05-02
Filing date: 1946-04-12
Publication date: 1951-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-15

Description

May 15, 1951 Filed April 12, 1946 1 TO OTHER R SUM RLY CKTSLIKE FIG. 1

TUADDEND -i" RLYCKTS LIKE FIG] G. T. BAKER BINARY CALCULATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l EMP INVENTOR GEORGE THOMAS BAKER ,ALLORNEY May 15, 1951 T; BAKER 2,552,760

BINARY CALCULATOR ATTORNEY May 15, 1951 Filed April 12, 1946 (O QOIUIL O WXY G. T. BAKER BINARY CALCULATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTO R GEORGE THOMAS BAKER wfiz. .524

ATTORNEY y 15, 1951 G. T. BAKER 2,552,760

BINARY CALCULATOR Filed April 12, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Z/A YD P A2 z/A INVEN TOR GEORGE THOMAS BAKER ATTORNQ May 15, 1951 G. T. BAKER 2,552,760

BINARY CALCULATOR Filed April 12, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet s POSITION 2 NVENTOR.

E GEORGE TOMAS BAKER l 5 m 0 Q a:

ATTORNEY Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BINARY CALCULATOR George Thomas Baker, Liverpool, England, as-. signer to Automatic (Electric Laboratories Inc., Chicago,,lll., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1946, Serial No. 661,590 In'Great Britain May 2, 1945 19 Claims. (01. 235-61) The present invention relates to electricallyoperated calculating equipment and is more particularly concerned with the production of apparatus capable of performing a variety of vention is to produce a machine suitable for per-- forming the operations of simplearithmetic rapidlyand reliablywhile'at the same time the machine occupies a comparatively small bulk and is not unduly costly.

It has been found that the operation of a calculating machine of the type contemplated is simplified by the use of the binary scale to and from which the numbers concerned may be converted automatically or by the operator. It will be appreciatedthat with the use of this scale the only digits which come in question are and 1, that is to say, there are only two possibilities and consequently any number expressedin the binary scale may be readily represented physically by a group of simple relays in accordance with which of the two positions, operated or non-operated, theyoccupy; On this basis it is possible for each digit to be represented by a single relay though it is not outside the scope of the invention to make use of other scales in which however either special forms of relay or a plurality of relays are necessary for each digit. The number required need not however be anything like as great as theradix of the scale since the relays may be operated invarious-combinations and four will in fact morethan suflice to express any digit on the ordinary decimal scale.

According to one feature of the invention, in a counting or computing arrangement employing a rotary stepping switch, the wipers of the switch are adapted by their movement to connect with a group of storage relays and to transfer the setting of the storage relays to a groupthe common relays-then serving to control the- 2, setting of the first relay group in dependence on the setting of further groups of relays similarly connected to another bank of the switch.

A further feature of the invention is that in an arrangement for effecting addition or subtraction electrically, the first number is registered in the binary scale on a group of relays connected to successive contacts .inthe banknfa rotary switch while the second, number is Simir" larly registered on. another group of relays connected to successive contacts, in a second bank of the switch, the registrations in each position of theswitch being transferredasvthe wipers ad- Vance to common relays. which thereupon con-, trol the registering relays in such manner that the corresponding relay of the first group then. registers the appropriate digit of the required. sum or difference, while thecorresponding relay of the second group is released to give zero registration. on said group.

Still another feature ofthe invention is that. in an arrangement for effecting multiplication electrically by the operation of two rotary step.- ping switches the two numbers concerned are registered in the binary scale on groups: of re lays connected to successive contacts in the banks of the respective switches and the switches are then adapted tobe operated through a cycle for each digit registered on the. relays associated with the first switch the wipers of the two switches engaging corresponding digit positions simultaneously on the first cycle and beingthereafter displaced one step corresponding to each succeeding cycle the switches having associated with them common equipment which is operated dependent upon the registrations encountered by the wipers of the two switches at any position and thereupon effects suitable alteration. of the registrations so that on the completion of the operation the registration associated with the first switch represents the desired product while that associated with the second switch is zero.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of various ways of carrying it into effect which should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings comprisin Figs. 1 to 7. Of these Fig. 1 shows the method of control preferably used. for each individual relay, Fig; 2 shows schematically the basic circuit used for addition and subtraction, Fig. 3 shows a circuit which will give simple multiplication, while Figs. 4 and 5 show a slightly more complicated arrangement adapted to give simple addition in the decimal scale utilising the principles of the invention, Fig. 6 indicates the 7 according to requirements.

and

. represented as earth, possibly by way of suitable contacts which give general control, while the other terminal is connected to lead A to which either the other pole of the source, which will be referred to as battery, or earth may be connected If the relay. is unop'erated and battery is connected up at A, it then operates and completes a locking circuit for itself by way of resistor YA and control contacts SRl so that it remains operated if the initiating battery is subsequently removed. If battery is then again connected up'at A, no change Will be produced but if earth is connected up, the relay is shunted and accordingly releases.- It will be appreciated that the relay is used as a form of storage device and that the operated condition of the relay is characterised by the connection of battery to lead A. It will .be further appreciated that a circuit like that shown in Fig. 1 is connected to each of the contacts of S2, the relays like UR in this case being called the addend relays. In all cases the digit 1 representsan operated relay and the digit represents a normal relay. 7

Referring now to Fig. 2, where two numbers which are to be added are assumed to be setup by suitable operation of relays connected to successive contacts in the banks of the uniselector wipers SI and S2 respectively. This operation may conveniently be doneby suitable keys such as K in Fig. '1 which momentarily connect battery to the appropriate contacts and thus enable the relays to operate and lock up. Since operation of the binary scale is assumed, the relay connected to any contact represents double value of the 'relay. connected to the preceding contact, 1. e. the power of the implied radix increases byl for each successive contact.

The stepping of the rotary stepping switches, or so called uniselector, is caused by the interaction of relay P and the driving magnet SM and is initiated by the closing of a contact (not shown but indicated by the dotted connection) in the circuit of relay P. Relay P is slightly slow to operate and when it does so it closes its contact Pi, thereupon energising the magnet SM. This opens the interrupter contacts SMC and thus releases relay P which in turn releases the magnet and the wipers are then advanced to the next contact. The action which takes place on each contact may therefore be divided into two stages. The Wipers reach the contact with relay Pin normal position and relays A and B are then operated over their upper windings by the locking battery if the associated sum or addend relays have been operated for the particular digit concerned. As will be pointed out later, relay C is already operated if there is a carry forward from the preceding contact. When relay P operates,

4 represents the sum of the two numbers originally set up on the banks of wipers Si and S2.

In order to follow the operation a little more closely, assume'first that the relays connected to the second contacts in the trunks of both Wiper Si and wiper S2 are operated and that there is no carry forward digit. Accordingly, when these contacts are reached, both relays A and B are operated and it will be appreciated that the ap- 'propriate condition for the sum is zero for that digit and a carry forward of l. The .efiect of the operation of both relays A and B is that an earth connection over contacts A2 and B2 is prepared to Wiper SI. When relay P operates this earth is extended to wiper Si by contacts P3 and causes the release of the operated sum relay while earth over contacts P2 is applied to wiper S2 and causes the release of the addend relay in the B Ail group. Moreover, relays A and'B now look up over their lower windings to earth at contacts P4 and this earth is also extended over contacts SUB, A3, C2 and B3 to operate relay D. This relay at contacts Di prepares a locking circuit for itself and an operating circuit for relay C. It should be mentioned that the connection of battery by way of resistor YB to the locking contacts P4 is intended to give the relays A, B and C a slight release lag to cover the transit time of re lay P. When relay P next releases the Wipers are advanced to contact 3 so that relays A and B take up positions corresponding to the digits registered inthis position. Moreover, relay C is now operated and alters the. circuits in a manner which will be more fully appreciated subsequently.

, Assume first that neither of relays A and B is operated in this position. In this case when relay P next operates, since contacts C4 are changed over, battery via resistor YA is connected to wiper SI to operate the appropriate sum relay and register I in respect of the carry forward digit. If relay A is operated, contacts A2 will connect up earth to shunt down the operated sum relay and thus register the digit 0 while a circuit will also be completed over contacts A3 and 03 for relay D which is accordingly maintained operated after relay P energises. This state of operation is subsequently transferred to relay C which thus a ain registers a carry forward digit. If relay B alone is operated in position 3 of the wipers of the switch S, no potential is connected to wiper SI so that no change is made to the condition of the sum' relay, 1. e. it remains de-energised. A circuit is also completed over contacts B3 and C2 for relayD so that it remains energised and subsequently energises relay C to give a carry forward digit. If both relays A and B are'operated, the conditions are substantially the same as with only relay B operated except that in this case the fact that no potential is connected to wiper Si means that the operated sum relay. remains operated.-

The subsequent operations which take place as the wipers of the switch S are further advanced are similar and will be followed without difficulty. As previously pointed out, the result of the addition is set up on the sum relays associated with wiper SI while the addend relays associated with wiper S2 are all released so that a further number may then be set up and another addition operation carried out.

Fig. '7 discloses'a timing and sequence chart for relays A,B, C, D, P and magnet SM. The upward slanting portion ofthe bars indicates the operating time of the relay associated therewith and the downward slanting portion of the bars indicates the restoringtime of the associated relay. It will be noted that the bars associated with relay P have a long upward slant thus indicating the slow to operate characteristics of this relay. The magnet SM is shown as having a relatively fast restoring time as is characteristic of such magnets. Relays A, B, C and D are shown as having slow to restore characteristics due to the shunting resistor YB.

Taking now the operation of Fig. 2 in conjunction with Fig. '7 for the problem of adding 13 to 10. These decimal numbers are of course written as 1101 and 1010 in the binary system and their sum is 10111. We will assume that the sum relays associated with

contacts

2, 4 and 5 of SI corresponding to number 1101 have been operated by appropriate non-locking keys such as K in. Fig. 1, and the addend relays associated with

contacts

3 and 5 of S2 corresponding to number 1010 have also been operated in a similar manner. The adding process is initiated by closing the energizing circuit to relay P as has been described. Relay P is slow to operate as is shown by the timing diagram and when it operates it closes contacts PI thereby starting the operation of motor magnet SM. Magnet SM operates opening contacts SMC which opens the energizing circuit of relay P which now starts to restore. When relay P restores contacts Pi open and motor magnet SM restores and in so doing steps SI and S2 to position #2 as is shown in the timing diagram. This cycle of operation is repeated, stepping the switch from contact to contact until the switch is brought to its home position by any suitable well known means.

When the wipers of SI reaches position #2 it finds battery because of the operated condition of the sum relay associated with this position consequently relay A is energized over its upper winding. The wiper of S2 finds ground at position #2 hence there is no operation of relay B. A short time after relay A energizes, relay P again energizes and locks relay A energized over its lower winding through contacts P4 and AI. Relay A connects ground at contacts A2 through B2 but because of the deenergized condition of relay 0, this ground is ineffective. Thus, for this position the circuit connected to the wiper of SI is an open circuit and there is no change in the operated condition of the sum relay associated with this position when the switch steps off of position #2, relay A starts to restore as is shown in Fig. 7. When Si and S2 reach position #3, the wiper of Si finds ground and the wiper of S2 finds battery. Relay B now operates over its upper winding. A short time after relay B operates, relay P operates and locks relay B energized over its lower winding through contacts P4 and BI. Relay P connects direct ground to the wiper of S2 at contacts P2 thus shunting down the operated addend relay associated with position #3. Battery is now connected through resistance YA, contacts A2, B2, C4 and P3 to the wiper of SI thus operating the sum relay associated with position #3. As soon as relay P restores, relay B starts to restore because the wiper of S2 is no longer finding battery on position #3 since formerly operated addend relay has been shunted down. Si and S2 new step to position #4 where the wiper of SI finds battery and the wiper of S2 finds ground.

The operation of the various relays is the same for position #4 as it was for position #2 except that relay A remains energized when SI steps to position #5 as is shown in Fig. 7. Relay A remains energized in this case because the wiper of SI finds. battery on both positions #4 and #5.-

and due to its slow to release, characteristics, relay A does. not have time to restore during the slight interval occurring. between the time the wiper of SI leaves position #4 and arrives at position #5. When the wiper of S2 arrivesat position #5 it also finds battery hence relay B operates over its upper-winding. A short time after relay B operates, relay P again operates and locks relays A. and. B. energized. over their lower windings from. ground at contacts P i through contactsAl and Bi. Ground is nowextended from contacts A2 through contactsB2, C4and P3 to the wiper ,of Si tothereby shunt down the operated sum relay associated with position #5. Relay .P also shunts down the operated addend relay associated with position #5 at contactsP2. Relay D operates over its upper winding from ground at contacts P4 through contacts SUB, A3, C2, B3 and upper winding of relay .D to battery.

Relay D prepares a. locking circuit for itself and.

an energizing circuit for relay C at contacts DI.

Since both. the sum and addend relays associated.

with position 5 were shunted down, relays A. and B will start to restore when relay P restores and opens their locking circuits at contacts P4. As

soon as relay P restores, relay C. operates over its.

upper winding through contacts P4 and DI. This circuit also looks relay Di energized over its lower winding. When Si and SZ'reach. position #6, both wipers find ground henceneither relays A or Boperate but when relay P next: operates, battery is. extended through resistance YA, contacts A2, B2, C4 andP3 to the wiper of SI thusoperating the sum relay associated with this position to thereby register the carry over digit from position #5. Relay P also opens the locking circuit of relay D at contactsP l, relay C being locked up over its lower winding through contacts Ci. Relay C restores when relay P opens contacts P4 in restoring at the end of the operating cycle for position #6. SI and S2 willcontinue to step until they reach the home position but the wipers will find ground on all subsequent positionshence relays A, B, C and D will remain deenergized.

The only difierence between addition and subtraction is in the carry-over digit and this requires that the carry over. relay be operated when the wiper of S2 is the only wiper to find battery on a particular position. Hence, if the changeover combinationSUB shown in the dotted square in Fig. 2 is moved to the alternate position, the conditions are met and the circuit will now function to subtract number B from number A.

The case of subtraction involves a diificulty which does not arise in the case of addition, viz. where the second number is greater than the first number so that the result is negative. This difficulty, however, may be overcome in a very simple manner by providing more storage relays than are actually required. This means that all the later relays are operated if the result is negative and the fact that the last relay is operated may conveniently be used to indicate this fact. If due to a further addition the result becomes positive, the later storage relays are released and the correct result is given. In this manner the circuitcan be used for mixed additions and subtractions by suitable changeover of contacts SUB even though some of the intermediate results are negative.

In order to trace the working of the circuit it will be assumed that the number 7 represented by the connection of battery to contacts 2, s and 4 in the bank of wiper SZis to be subtracted from Y number 37 is to be multiplied by, say ii.

7 the number erepresented by the connection of battery to contact 4'in the bank of wiper SI. It will be appreciated that 7 is 111 on the binary scale while 4 is 100. When the wipers advance to position 2, relay B only is operated with the result that when relay P operates, battery is connected to' wiper SI to operate the appropriate storage relay and since contacts SUB arenow changed over, relay D is operated over contacts SUB, A3, C2 and 33.. When relay P releases and the wipers advance to contact 3, relay also is operated and again relay B but not relay A. No change is therefore made to the de-energised condition of the A storage relay in this position since no potential is connected to wiper SI and in addition a circuit is maintained for relay D over contacts C2 and B3. When the wipers advance to position 4 both relays A and B are operated and since relay C is still operated, no change is made to the energised condition of the A storage relay and relay Dis again operated. In position 5 neither relay A nor relay B is operated and hence the appropriate A storage relay is energised and a circuit is maintained for relay D over contacts A3 and C3. The same conditions apply to all subsequent positions of the switch and hence as pointed out above all the later A storage relays are operated and the last one may be used to indicate the negative result. It will be appreciated that if addition is subsequently made so as to make the result positive the conditions for the later positions will be that both relays A and C. are operated which results in connection of earth to wiper SI and the restoration of the various. operated A storage relays.

Fig. '3 shows the basic circuit of Fig. 2 adapted for use 'in multiplying binary numbers by the repeated addition method. The main difference between Figs. 2 and 31s the addition of a second uniselector in the circuit of Fig. 3. The numbers whose product is desired are connected to the banks of wipers SA2 and SBl in a manner similar to the way in which numbers were set up in the case of addition. The number associated with SA2 is called the multiplier factor and the number associated with SBl is called the multiplicand factor. The product is given at the bank of SAI.

In order that the method of operation may be readily appreciated, it will be assumed that the 37 is 32+4+1, or written in the binary scale 100101 and hence when this number is set upoperated. relays'will be connected to the 1st, 3rd and 6th contacts in the bank of wiper SA2. '17 is 16+ 1, or written in the binary scale 10001, so that operated relays will be connected to the second and sixth contacts in the bank of wiper SBI when this number is set up, the home position being counted as the first position. In order to start the operation earth is connected to the interrupter contacts SAMC and SBMC. Since an ener gised storage relay is connected to the first contact engaged by wiper SA2, relay SW'is operated and on the operation of relay P relay SW' is locked up and circuits are completed for the magnets SAM and SBM of the two uniselectors They then open their interrupter contacts SAMC and SBMC and release relay P whereupon the magnets are de-energised and the two switches step together. Relay P also at contacts P2 by connecting earth to wiper SA2 shunts down the operated storage relay. On the second contact of switch SB, relay ON is energised over Wiper g exercise no further control during this cycle The operations which take'place at this time'are exactly the same as the arrangement of Fig.2 andsince nothing has yet been set up on thebank of wiper SAI, the eifect is that the number registered on the bank of wiper SBI is transferred to SAI, or in general terms the number set up on SBI is multiplied by 1 and added to the number set up on SAI. When the uniselectors reach the home position, relay ON releases and at contacts ONI opens the stepping circuit for the B uniselector since relay SW is now'normal. Uni selector SA however continues to step since the circuit of relay P is still maintained. When the third contact is reached, relay SW is again op erated and thus initiates the stepping of the uniselector SB. Relay ON is operated as soon as this switch moves off-normal and prevents wiper SA2 exerting any further control over this cycle. The two uniselectors now continue to step to-[ gether but this time wiper SAI is two contactsin front of wiper SBl. Hence during the subsequent process the operated relay representing I. connected to the second contact engaged by wiper SB! is added to SAI as a 4 and the operated relay representing 16 connected to contact 0 is added as 54. Thus the number set up on SE! is multiplied by 4 and added to SAl. When uniselector SB reaches its home position by which time uniselector SA will be in position 3, relay ON releases and uniselector SA continues to step until it reaches the sixth contact. Relay SW then operates and causes uniselector SB to step as previously described. Uniselector SA is now five contacts in front of uniselector SB and the ef- 7 feet therefore is that the number on SE! is multi- I in which case battery is connected to the thirdso that the conditions encountered by this wiper plied by 32 and added to SA! The total registered on SA! is now 37 times the number on SB! and since all the relays connected to SA2 have now been released, the operation ceases assuming'thatcontrol is by a pilot relay in their locking circuit. It will of course be understood that there will be sufiicient contacts in the switch banks that with the maximum dispiacement between the two switches switch B will pass the highest digit place before switch A reaches its home position. It will be appreciated that the operated relays connected to SBI can now be released by the opening of their locking circuit in order to permit the setting up of a further number to be dealt with.

For the purpose of examining the circuits of Fig. 3 more closely let us take the example of multiplying 4 times 5 which, when written in binary notation, appears as 100x101. The product of course, is 10100. number 100 has been set up on the banks of SA2 contact. Assuming also that the number 101 has been set up on the banks of SBI in which case battery is connected to the second and fourthcontacts the home position in all cases being counted as the first position. No operation takes place until a circuit is completed for relay P through contacts SAMC by the operation of any suitableswitching device (not shown but indicated by the dotted connection). operates and completes a circuit for motor magnet SMVI at contacts P t thereby causing magnet SAM to energize and open contacts SAMC. Re-

lay P restores opening contacts P5 thereby causing magnet SAM to restore and step SAl and SA2 to position #2. Ground is found by, the

wipers of both SAI and SA2 hencethere is no relay operation on this position. Relay P and Assume now that the" Relay P magnet SAM continue their cyclic operation as has been previously explained in conjunction with Fig. 2. Upon the next deenergizaticn of magnet SAM, the wipers SA! and SAZ step to position #3. Battery is found on position #3 by the wiper of SA?. and extended through contacts N2, P52, and the upper winding of relay SW to ground. Relay SW operates, preparing an energizing circuit for motor magnet SBM at contacts SW2, and preparing a locking circuit at contacts SW! Relay P now operates and completes the lock ing circuit for relay SW by way of contacts SW! and the lower winding of relay SW. Relay 'P connectsdirect ground to the wiper of'SAE at contacts P2 through contacts ONz thus shunting down the operated multiplier relay (not shown but like the sum relay shown in Fig. 1)

associated with position #3. Relay P also completes the energizing circuit for motor magnet SBM at contacts Pl. The two motor magnets now operate in synchronism to step their respective switches from contact to contact under the control of rela P. It will beappreciated that the wipers of SA! and SA2 are now two steps ahead of the'wipers of SB! and 832i. e. when the switches next step, the wipers of SA! and 8A2 will be on position #4 while the Wipers of.SB! and S32 are on position #2. Relay ON now operates in an obvious manner and at contacts 0N2 opens the energizing circuit of relay SW and rendering the wipers of SAE inefiective during the subsequent positions of the switch. Relay .ON also completes a new energizing aircuit for magnet SBM, relay SW having restored. The wiper of SB! finds battery on position- #2 hence relay B operates over an obvious circuit. When relay P is next operated battery is extended through resistance YA, contactsAE, B2, Cd and P3 to the Wiper of SA! to thereby operate the product relay (not shown but like the sum relay shown. in Fig. 1 associated with position #4. Up to this point, the product relays have registered 0 on

positions #

2 and 3, and 1 on position #4. On the next step of the switches all the wipers find ground so that no relay operation takes place-on this position. On the step however, position #ifor SA! and 8A2 and position #4 for S35 and S132, the wiper of SB! again finds battery thus causing relay B to operate. When relay P next operates, battery is again connected to the wiper of SA! to thereby operate the product relay associated with position All subsequent positions of the switches are grounded hence'no further rela operation will talre place and the switches will be returned to their home positions. It will be appre iated that the product relays associated with SA! have been operated on the fourth and sixth positions thereby indicating the number 10100 which of course is the product of 100 and 101.

It will beseen on consideration that fractions can be handled without diliiculty provided what may be termed the binary point (equivalent to the decimal point in the ordinary denar scale) is located in the same position for banlzs SAZ and SEE and that suitable car is taken in interreting the result.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the same general principles to computation directly in the scale of using the code indicated in Fig. 6. This employs four ts, referred to as W, X, Y, Z which are associated with successive positions of the uniselector wipers and this case four banks are necessary. The circuit operations are not quite so easy to follow'and can best be illustrated by'means of an example.

It will be assumed that and 21s are to be added so that by the operation of suitable keys (i5! is set up on the relays connected to the bank of wiper S! and 5219 on the relays connected to the bank or wiper S2. From consideration of the code shown in the table, Fig. 6, it will then be seen that battery is connected to contacts 6, 8, l2 and 13in the bank of wiper S! and to

contacts

4, 6, l, 3 and !2 in the bank of wiper 52. When the registrations have been duly made, relays A and B will be operated and it'is assumed that at the same time the circuit of relay P is closed. When relay P operates, relays A and B lock up in the usual manner, the battery connection through resistor YB ensuring the necessary slight release lag. Contacts P! then energise the-magnet SM while contacts P5 complete a circuit over contacts A3 and 133 for relay D which operates and prepares a circuit for relay C.

picks up battery sothat relays A and B are now released. When relay P energises relay C alone remains energised and hence battery is connected towiper S! to operate the X storage relay. When relay P de-energises, relay '0 also releases and the wipers are advanced to position 3 in which again neither relay A nor relay B isoperated.

Hence when relay P operates, no connection is made to wiper S! and the Y storage relay is not operated. When position 4 is reached relay B alone is" operated and hence when relay P energises, battery is applied over contacts A5, C3, B4, CV2 and P6 to energise the Z relay in the units combination UA.

In position 5 relay A is operated by the Z storagerelay just energised and relay B is operated by the Y storage relay energised in position 2. In addition relay CV is operated over wiper S4 and changes over'the circuits for wipers S! and S2. When relay P operates, relay D is energised over contacts P5 and relay 0 is then energised over contacts CV3 and DI. As a result earth is applied over contacts A4, D4 and CV2 to deenergise the operated Z storage relay and similarly earth is applied over contacts B6, D3 and CV! to de-energise the operated X storage relay. No connection can be made to wiper S3 owing to the operation of contacts B2. The result is therefore that in the units group UA there is now no storage relay operated which corresponds to the digit 0.

When relay P de-energises and the wipers are stepped to position 6, relays A and B are both maintained operated while relay CV releases but relays C and D remain operated. Consequently when relay P again energises, no potential is con-- nected to wiper S! and the operated W storage relay remains operated and also relay D remains energised over contacts A3 and B3. When relay P releases and the wipers move to position '7, relays C and D are still energised and also relay B but relay A now falls away. On the operation of relay P in position 7 therefore, again no potential is connected to wiper S! and hence the X'storage relay remains tie-energised. Relays .C releases; relay D is energised and the conditions are therefore that earth is connected to wiper SI so that 'C and D are still maintained energised, the latter over contacts C2, A3 and B3. In position 8, relays A and B are again both operated so that on the operation of relay P, relays C and D still remain energised and no connection is made to Wiper SI so that the Y storage relay remains energised. When, position 9 is reached, relays C and D are "operated but neither relay A nor relay 13. Hence When relay P operates, relay'D releases and battery is connected to wiper SI to operate the Z storage relay.

. When the wipers step to position 10, relay C releases and relay CV is operated. Moreover in "this position relay A is operated from the Z storage relay just energised but relay B is not operated and the operated Y storage relay energises relay E. on the next operation of .relay P, relay D is operated over contacts E2 and A6 and also relay and the following conditions are set up: earth is connected to wiper SI over contacts All, D4, CV2 and P4 to release the Z storage relay;

battery is connected to wiper S2 over contacts B6, D3, CV! and P3 to operate the X storage 'relay; earthis connected to Wiper S3 over contacts A2, D2, P2 and B2 to release the operated Y storage relay. Consequently the final set up of the tens storage relays TA is that relays W and X are operated corresponding to the digit 3.

When relay P next de-energises and the wipers are advanced to position 11, relays A, B, CV and 'E releasebut relays C and D are held up. When relay P again operates therefore, relay D releases the X storage relay is de-energised. On the next de-energisation of relay P it causes the advance (of the wipers to position 13 and relays C and D are energised and relay A is energised but not relay B. On the operation of relay P in this position therefore, relay D is held energised over contacts C2 and A6 and earth is connected to wiper SI and accordingly the hundreds Y stor-' age relay is de-energised. On thev next release 'of relay P whereupon the wipers are stepped to position 14, relays C and D remain energised but 'neither relay A nor relay B is operated in this position. Accordingly, relay D releases when relay P again energises but owing to the continued operation of relay C, battery is connected to wiper SI so that the Z storage relay is energised.

The next release of relay P, which causes the Wipers to advance to position 15, efiects the release of relay C and relay A is now operated from the Z storage relay just energised and relay CV is operated as usual. Since neither the X storage relay nor the Y storage relay is operated, no circuit is' completed for either relay B or relay 'E; Consequently when relay P next operates there is no circuit for relay D and in view of the changeover of the CV contacts, no potential can be connected to any of the wipers S5, S2 and S3. group HA is relays W and Z corresponding to the .digit 9. P, the wipers are advanced to position 16 and 'relay CV de-energises but as relays A, B and C are all now de-energised no connectioncan bemade to wiper SI to operate the W storage relay assuming that a further set is provided. This Hence the set-up in the hundreds storage On the next de-energisation of relay applies equally to each position during the subsequent stepping of the switch back to its home position. I

In order'to enable the working of the circuit to be more fully appreciated one other example will be traced through in some detail and for this purpose it will be assumed that the number set up on the B storage relays is 479 instead of 279 so that battery is comlected to contact I3 engaged by wiper S2 instead of contact I2 and the total should be 1130 instead of 930. The operation of adding the first two digits is therefore the same as previously described and conditions are also the same in position 11 in which relay C only remains operated and the hundreds W storage relay is operated.

On the next de-energisation of relay P it causes the wipers to step to position 12, relay C also is released and in this case only relay A is opera ated. Consequently no potential is connected to Wiper SI on the subsequent operation of relay P and hence the X storage relay remains operated. When relay P de-energises, the wipers are advanced to position 13 and both relays A and B are now operated. Hence when relay P again operates, relay D is energised and earth is connected to wiper SI to cause the release of the Y storage relay. On the next release of relay P, it brings the Wipers to position 14, relays C and D are energised but neither relay A nor'relay B. Hence when relay P operates, battery is connected to wiper SI to operate the Z storage relay and relay D releases.

When relay P next releases and the wipers are advanced to position 15, relay CV is operated and also relays A and B in View of the operated condition of the X and Z storage relays While relay C is released. On the next operation of. relay P, relay Dis again energised and energises relay C overcontacts CV3 and hence earth is connected to Wiper SI to release the Z storage relay and earth is connected to wiper S2 to release the X storage relay but owing to the operation of contacts B2, earth cannot be connected to wiper S3 though in this particular instance it would have no efiect as the Y storage relay is not operated. Accordingly the final set-up of the hundreds storage group HA is that relay W is energised corresponding to the digit 1.

When relay P next de-energises, the wipers are stepped to contact I5 and relays C and D remain energised. Since however nothing is now set up on either the A or the B thousands storage groups assumed to be provided neither relay A nor relay B is operated and hence on the operation of relay P, battery is connected to wiper SI to operate the thousands W storage relay. Relay D now releases and consequently when relay P releases, relay C also falls away and in position 17 no connection is made to wiper SI. This is also true of positions 18 and 19 and in position 20 no change can be brought about since none of the X, Y and Z storage relays is operated. Accordingly the final result is that in both the hundreds and the thousands storage groups the storage relay W is energised representing the digit 1,

1 and the correct answer 113i) is given.

successive contacts in said second bank of con-- tacts, means for operating certain of the relays in eachf said groups ofirelays to therebyregister a number on eachof saidgroups of relays, a set of commonrelays associatedwith the wipers of saidxswitch, means for causing the wipers'of said switch to progressively engage successive contacts on said switch, an electrical, circuit con- .nected to each of said wipers for controlling the operations of said common: relays in accordance with the registrations on said groups of relays duringv said progressive. engagement of said successive contacts, and circuits controlled by the operations of said common vrelays for registering a different number on one of said groups of relays.

2. In a calculator, a rotary stepping switch having wipers andbanks of contacts accessible thereto, a group of relays connected to successive contacts in one bank of said switch, l cans for causing said relays to register a number in the binary scale, a secondgroup' of relays connected to successive contacts in a second bank of said switch, means for causingsaid second group of relays to register a second number in the binary scale, a set of common relays associated with the wipers of said switch, means. for transferring the registrations of individual relays of said groups of relays connected to a particular position of said switch to said common relays, means controlled by said common relays forcausing the relay in said first group of relays associated with said particular position of saidswitch to register the appropriate digit representing the algebraic sum of the original registrations at said particular position.

3. A calculator as is claimed in claim 2 including means for causing the relay insaid second grouper relays associated with saidparticular position of said switch to'register zero.

4. In an electric calculator, a rotary stepping switch having wipersand banks of contacts accessible thereto, a group of relays connected to successive contacts in one bank of said switch, a second group of relays connected to successive contacts in a second bank of said switch, means for causing said second-group cfrelays to register a number in the binary scale, a second rotary switch having wipers and banks of contacts accessible thereto, a third group of relays connected to successive contacts in a bank of said second switch, means for causing said third group of relays to register a number in the binary scale, stepping means for causing the wipers of said first switch to advance through successive complete operating cycles, means including other stepping means and relays controlled by said first switch for causing saidsecond switch to rotate through one operating cycle for each binary digit, one registered by said second group of relays, and circuit means including common relays controlled by both of said switches responsive to the rotation of said switches for causing said first group of relays to register a number in the binary scale equal to the product of said first two numbers,

5. In an electric calculator, a-first rotary stepping switch having a first wiper and a first bank of contacts, a group of relays connected to suecessive contacts in the bank of said first switch, means for causing certain of said group of relays to be operated to thereby register a number in .the binary scale, a second rotary stepping switch having a second wiper anda second bank of contacts, asecond group ofrelays connected to suecessive contacts in the second bank of said second switclnmeans for causing said second group .ofrelaysto register a second number inthe binary scale, means for causing the wipers of :said switches to advance: throughvsuccessive operating cycles, each of said 'wiperslsuccessively engaging all of thecontacts in the b-ankwithwhich .itis cssociatedduring the time .of. one operating cycle, means for causing the wiper. of said second switch to-be displaced relativeto the wiper of. said first switclrduring each operating cycle in which the wiper of said first switch does not find an operated one of said first group of relays on the first contact which the wiper of. said first switch encounters, the amount of said displacement being equal to the number of successive contacts engaged by the wiper of said first switch having unoperated: ones or" said first group of relays connected thereto, before it engages a contact connected to an operated relay.

6. An electric calculator as claimed. in claim 5 inrwhich said first switch includes a second :bank of contactsxand. a wiper therefore, a third group of relayslconnected to successive contacts in the second bank of said first switch, a set of common relayslassociated with the wipers of said switches, and circuit means including said common relays responsive to the operation: of said switches and :in accordance with the operated condition of said first and second groups of relays for causing said third group of relays to register a number in the binary scale equal to the binary prcduct of said first two numbers.

7. In a calculator, a rotary stepping switch having first and second bankscf contacts and a wiper for each bank, a ground relays connected tosaidi'irst bank of contactsya second group of relays connectedto said second bank of con tacts, means for causing said first group of relays to register a first number, means for causing said second group of relays to register a second number, an augendrelay associated with'the wiper of said first bank of contacts, an addend relay associated with the wiper of said second bank of contacts, a carryover relay, a control circuit including contacts of said augend, addend, and carryover relays, means for causing said switch to progressively step said wipers across successive contacts in said banks of contacts, circuit means including said wipers for selectively operating said augend, addend and carryover relays in accordance with the said registrations on said groups of relays during said stepping operations, said control circuit com- -pleted by theselective operation of said augend, addend and-carryover relays causing said first group of relays to register a number equal to the algebraic sum of said first and second numbers.

8. In an electrical calculating system, a switch having a wiper and a set of contacts accessible thereto, a group of relays connected to successive contacts in said set of contacts, means for operating certain ones of said group of relays .to

thereby mark certain. of the contacts in said set of contacts in accordance with a binarynumber, a second switch having a wiper anda set of contacts accessible thereto, means for causing the wiper of said first switch to advance through successive operating cycles, means for causing the wiper of said second switch to advance through successive operating cycles, each of said wiperssuccessively engaging all of the contacts in the set of contacts with which it is associated during the time of one-operating cycle, a control relay connected to the wiper of said second switch, circuit means connected to the wiper of .said first switch through contacts onsaid control relay .for rendering said third means inoperative until the wiper of said first switch first finds a marked contact, said circuit means effective to deenergize the relay connected to the first marked contact found by the wiper of said first switch during each operating cycle, said control relay operative to disconnect said circuit means from the wiper of said first switch during the part of each operating cycle remaining after the wiper of said first switch first finds a marked contact to thereby prevent said circuit means from deenergizing more than one relay in said group of relays during each operating cycle of said first switch.

9. In a calculating system, a switch having a pair of wipers and a set of contacts accessible to each, a set of control relays, means for marking the contacts accessible to one wiper in accordance with a particular numbenmeans for marking the contacts of the other set in accordance with another number, means for causing the wipers to traverse said contacts successively, circuits including said Wipers for operating said control relays in accordance with the markings of both sets of contacts, and further circuits completed by said control relays to make a computation and to change the markings on one of said sets of contacts in accordance with said computation.

1D. In a calculating system, a series of storage relays, a second series of storage relays, means for registering a number in the binary scale on said first series of relays by operating certain ones thereof and for registering a second number in the binary scale on the second series of relays by operating certain ones thereof, a common group of relays, means for successively associating the common group of relays with individual, corresponding relays of the first and second series, circuits interconnecting said common relays and said successively associated relays for selectively operating said common relays, and

further circuits responsive to the operated common relays for causing a change in the setting of the successive relays in the first series to thereby register therein the sum of the numbers first registered in said'series of relays.

11. In an electric calculating system a pair of switches each having a wiper and a bank of contacts, the contacts of one bank marked in accordance with a number used as a multiplier and the other bank marked in accordance with a number used as the multiplicand, means for causing movement of one wiper over said one bank until it finds a marked contact and then causing movement of the other wiper over the other bank while preventing any influence by other'markings on the first bank, means for thereafter permitting subsequent operations of said one wiper to find successive markings on the first bank and for thereupon causing repeated rotations of the other wiper over its bank, whereby the product of the numbers may be obtained.

12. In an electrical calculating system, a rotary switch having a pair of wipers and contacts accessible thereto, a series of relays associated with the contacts accessible to one wiper operated to mark their contacts in accordance with a series of digits, a second series of relays associated with the contacts accessible to the other wiper operated to mark their contacts in accordance with another series of digits, other relays each controlled over each wiper in accordance with the marking on its contacts, a common relay controlled jointly by said other relays to register carryovers, a circuit including said one wiper and its contacts controlled jointly by 13. A calculator as claimed in claim 12 whercin said first and second series of relays each comprise a plurality of groups of relays, and in which the marking of a plurality of the contacts in each bank by the first group of relays in each of said series associated therewith determines the digit of the units order registered therein, while the marking on a plurality of subsequent contacts in said banks by another group of said relays in each of said series of relays associated therewith determines the digit of the next order registered therein.

14. A calculator as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second groups of relays are divided into sets of four relays each, the operation or non-operation of the relays of each set of relays registering any decimal digit, the operation of certain ones of the relays in each of said groups of relays resulting in the registration of a decimal number on each of said groups of relays, said different number being equal to the sum of said decimal numbers.

15. In a calculating system, a first group of relays; a first group of bank contacts; means for operating said first group of relays in accordance with any digit; means controlled by the operation of said first group of relays for marking only one of said bank contacts but different ones in said first group for four different digits, for marking only two of said bank contacts in said first group but in difierent combinations for four other different digits, and for marking only three of said bank contacts in said first group for a further digit; a second group of relays, a second group of bank contacts; means for operating said second group of relays in accordance with any digit; means controlled by the operation of said second group of relays for marking only one of said bank contacts but difierent ones in said second group for four different digits, for marking only two of said bank contacts in said second group but in difierent combinations for four other different digits, and for marking only three of said bank contacts in said second group for a further digit; a first wiper having access to said first group of contacts; a second wiper having access to said second group of contacts; and

meansfor simultaneously stepping said first and second wipers to successively engage their respective bank contacts in said first and second groups; and circuit means including relays controlled over said wipers in accordance with said marked contacts in said first and second groups.

during said stepping operation of said wipers over said first and second bank groups for adding the sum of the digits marked in said first and second groups of bank contacts.

16. A calculator as claimed in claim 15 including a third group of bank contacts, a third wiper having access to said third group of contacts, a circuit connecting certain of said first group of relays to a predetermined contact of said third group of bank contacts to mark said third bank of contacts, a circuit connecting certain other relays of said first group of relays to a predetermined contact of said second group of bank contacts to further mark said second group of bank contacts, said wiper stepping means stepping said third wiper simultaneously with said first and second wipers to cause said third Wiper to successively engage its respective bank contacts, and circuit means including relays controlled over said second and. third wipers in accordance with said marked contacts in said second and third groups during said stepping operation of said second and third wiper over said second and third groups of bank contacts for marking carryovers.

17. A calculator as claimed in claim 15 Wherein said last circuit means is effective for causing the operation of said first group of relays to register said sum.

18. In a calculator system, a first group of relays, a first plurality of bank contacts associated with said first group of relays, means for operating said first group of relays to mark certain ones of said first plurality of bank contacts in code to designate a digit, a second group of relays, a second plurality of bank contacts associated with said second group of relays, means for operating said second group of relays to mark certain ones 18 of said second plurality of bank contacts in code to designate a digit, a pair of Wipers having access to said first and second bank contacts, means for operating said wipers causing said wipers to simultaneously engage their respective said first and second bank contacts seriatim, and means effective responsive to the stepping operation of said wipers over their said respective bank contacts for adding the sum of the digits marked in code in said bank contacts.

19. A calculator as claimed in claim 18 wherein said last means is efiective for causing said first group of relays to register said sum.

GEORGE THOMAS BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,260,827 Booker Oct. 28, 1941 2,318,591 Coufiignal May 11, 1943 2,346,616 Saxby Apr. 11, 1944 2,386,481 Lang Oct. 9, 1945 2,411,540 Haigh Nov. 26, 1946 2,444,042 Hartley et a1 June 29, 1948